IN MEMORIAM

| March/April 1998

CLYDE O. JOHNSON, 84, of Valparaiso, Indiana, passed away
December 11, 1997. He was born May 12, 1913, in Valparaiso, the son
of Oscar and Elsie (Edwards) Johnson. He was a worker at US Steel
as a crane operator, the owner of American Taxi of Valparaiso, and
he was a farmer. He retired to his farm and had hobbies of
collecting and restoring tractors and farm machinery.

Clyde belonged to several steam and gas engine clubs, including
River Valley of Three Oaks, Michigan, Northern Indiana Historical
Power Association of Valparaiso, Lake County Agriculture, and
Winamac Power and Steam, and he was a member of the Winamac Old Car
Club. He was preceded in death by his wife Edith (Porch) Johnson in
1996. LESTER CROUCH, SR., 81, of Yar-mouth, Iowa, died Monday,
December 8, 1997 in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

Mr. Crouch along with his son, Lester Jr., grandson John, and
great-grandson Nathan, was part of a four generation family that
owned and showed a large variety of engines and related antiques at
many shows each year.

Mr. Crouch was best known for his Kuhlman pump jack, better
known by most as the crooked gear pump jack. Mr. Crouch will be
missed for his stories of how things were done on the farm as he
grew up and continued to farm.

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He was born at Hartford, Kansas, the son of Ed and Hallie Watts
Crouch. He married Helen Kissinger in 1936, at Muscatine, Iowa. She
died in 1984.

He came to Iowa in 1936 on the C.C.C. program. He was a farmhand
for seven different farmers until 1958, when he went to work for
Mr. C. William of Yarmouth, Iowa. He and his wife lived near New
London, then moved to Yarmouth when retiring. He was a member of
Southeast Iowa Gas Engine Club and the Seven Ponds Engine Club,
Midwest Central R.R. and Midwest Old Threshers. He attended every
Old Threshers Reunion in Mount Pleasant since its beginning.

BEATRICE and WALTER LEKIES, were both very active in North
Central Gas and Steam Engine Club. He was a founding member, and
she a past officer. They will be missed very much. They had many
unique machines and their sons will help to keep their memories
alive with all the people at our shows.

BEATRICE E. LEKIES, 77, Med-ford, died Thursday, January 9, 1997
at Weyauwega. The former Beatrice E. Schauss, she was born in 1919,
in Colby, Wisconsin. She worked at an aircraft factory in
California during World War II. She married Walter Lekies December
20, 1945 in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Following their marriage, she and her husband moved to Medford
where they owned and operated a school bus service.

Her husband, WALTER LEKIES, 78, Medford, died September 12,
1997, at Memorial Nursing Home in Medford. Walter was born in 1919
in Browning, where he attended Cloverdale School.

He worked as a farm hand in the Medford area for a period of
time. He served in the Army during WW II and received two Purple
Hearts. After the war, he worked for a number of years testing milk
for the DHIA. He later worked for Foremost Foods in Medford,
retiring in 1974. He enjoyed tractors, fishing in Canada and deer
hunting.

Both were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

HENRY WILLIAM BUSS, 81, Curtiss, died October 24, 1997. He was
very active and loved people. Everyone enjoyed his friendship and
his interesting stories related to his life.

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He was born in Clark County, and graduated from Midway School in
Hoard. As a young man, he began working on his grandparents'
farm in Green Grove, which he later owned and operated with his
family until his death. He married Gertrude Stock June 15, 1940, in
Decorah, Iowa. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in
1990.

His hobbies were logging, clover hulling, making maple syrup,
hunting and fishing. He held various offices in the Township of
Green Grove, the Bee Hive School and the United Church of Christ in
Owen. Henry served as director for the Owen-Curtiss State Bank for
32 years before retiring in 1996. He is survived by his wife.

REINER NETTERSHEIM had a steamer he enjoyed, a Keck-Gonner-man.
He participated in 1994 showing his engine, but as time passes,
both men and their machines get old and tired. On January 8, 1997,
he died at age 80. He was a member of North Central Wisconsin Steam
and Gas Club for about four years.

MARY GASCH was active at North Central Wisconsin Gas and Steam
Engine Club. She enjoyed doing her part helping wherever needed
during the show. You could always count on her smile. Her husband
had a steam engine which her children exhibit at the show. David,
her only son, always kept everyone informed of his Mom. She'll
be missed by family and friends.

Mary passed away in June and was laid to rest at Colby,
Wisconsin.

WALTER SCZYGELSKI of Merrill, Wisconsin was active at our show,
but was a member only a short time. He joined at the club banquet
October, 1996. He passed away in early 1997. He will surely be
missed.

ARCHIE MELVIN was helpful in whatever he tried. He tried many
activities but his health failed. He played an active part at our
show. I'm sure many will remember him. He died July 3, 1997 at
age 81.